Apply for FAFSA

Students who wish to receive consideration for financial aid funds (grants/loans/student employment, and many scholarship programs) must complete the financial aid application process every academic year. At Chicago State University (CSU) the academic year begins with the Fall semester and ends with the Summer semester. Whether you are an incoming or returning student (in an undergraduate, graduate or professional program), the application process is the same. The first step you must take is to complete a FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA establishes eligibility for Federal Student Aid Programs and most State of Illinois and many CSU aid programs.

You are encouraged to complete and submit a FAFSA on-line. CSU’s Federal school code is 001694. You will need to enter this code , so that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) sends us a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR). Comprehensive information concerning your FAFSA filing options are available on the same site.

Apply for a FSA ID - The fastest way to complete the FAFSA application process is to electronically sign your application on-line. You can do this if you have a FSA ID assigned by the USDE. All students (and parents of dependent students) should apply for a FSA ID. If you do not have a FSA ID you may, of course, print out a signature page from the FAFSA web site and mail it to the address indicated on that signature page.

Request a copy of a Federal Income Tax Form - You will, in most cases, need a copy of your Federal Income Tax Form (and your parents' forms too, if you are a dependent student) in order to complete your FAFSA. If you can’t locate this important document(s) you can easily obtain the needed copy(s), free of charge, from the IRS.

Once your FAFSA has been processed you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). If you filed via the internet (and were able to sign your FAFSA with your FSA ID) and you provided your e-mail address on the FAFSA you will be able to access your SAR via the Internet within two business days. If you filed a paper FAFSA, or via the internet without providing an e-mail address, you can expect to receive a printed copy of your SAR in approximately three weeks. Our office will receive an electronic copy of your SAR (provided you included our Federal school code) once processing is completed.

You should review your SAR thoroughly. If additional information is required, or you see that you made an error in any of the information you provided in your original filing, it is your obligation to provide the additional/correct information in order to complete the FAFSA process. Our office will receive electronic copies of any additions/corrections you make.

Illinois Map Grant

By filing a FAFSA, undergraduate Illinois residents are also completing the application process for the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. Be sure to file your FAFSA as soon as possible beginning October 1st of every year for the upcoming academic year in order to qualify for all possible Illinois grants.

2023-2024 Academic Year - The priority filing deadline for continuing students is December 1, 2022. In order to ensure you receive your maximum eligibility, please complete your FAFSA prior to this date.

2022-2023 Academic Year - The priority filing deadline for continuing students is December 1, 2021. In order to ensure you receive your maximum eligibility, please complete your FAFSA prior to this date. There is currently no suspension for the 2022-2023 MAP grants. For additional information please visit the "ISAC Suspension of Map Award Announcements"  web page.